BASEBALL IN AMERICA

A lively run-down of America's favorite game traces its decade-by-decade development from the 1860's when the gentleman players of a few New York clubs staged exhibit games which led to the cross-country contagion for this sport. While its ""gentlemanly"" origins and ""sporting"" traditions were quickly forgotten, and baseball as it was played before a rowdy public had few definite rules and encouraged a good deal of misconduct- still the game took shape, particularly under Chadwick, who tried to protect it, and Comiskey and Kelly who transformed it into a better sport. The launching of the leagues; the changes in styles; 1911- which ushered in the dominance of the batter; the outsized performances, Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth in the '20's, Dizzy Dean in the '30's, and the big bats of today- Robinson, Williams, DiMaggio, Mays, Campanella, Mantle- all this provides an entertaining cavalcade of baseball history as it was made... Maybe not for the distance- but along with the 200 photographs, there should be a strong play at home plate. Also a likely gift item.